What to Do After a Power Surge in Chicago | E&P Electric

Visual inspection of your home:

Inside:

• ✓ Smell for burning (electrician smell: acrid, like burnt plastic)
• ✓ Check visible outlets/switches for scorch marks, discoloration
• ✓ Look at panel area (any visible damage, tripped breakers?)
• ✓ Check appliances (smell, visible damage, indicator lights)

Outdoors:

• ✓ Look at meter box (any visible damage or marks?)
• ✓ Check outdoor outlets and fixtures
• ✓ Look for downed lines or branches on lines

If you see fire, smell burning, or smell gas:

• Call 911 immediately
• Evacuate your home
• Don't use electrical outlets, switches, or appliances
• Let firefighters/emergency responders assess

Do NOT plug in or turn on damaged appliances.

Visual check each appliance:

• Refrigerator: Any burning smell? Control panel lights on? (Keep plugged in during assessment)
• Water heater: Smell, indicator light, reset switch tripped?
• HVAC furnace: Reset button tripped? Control board lights on?
• Washer/dryer: No burning smell? Controls responsive?
• TV, computer: No burning smell? Indicator lights normal?
• Microwave: Any burnt smell? Clock reset to flashing 12:00?

Do not use if:

• Burning smell present
• Visible damage to device
• Water damage visible
• Reset buttons tripped (may indicate internal damage)

Unplug and wait for electrician assessment.

Many surge-caused breaker trips are protective:

Check your panel:

• Look for breakers in OFF position (surge may have tripped protection)
• DO NOT immediately flip breakers back ON (may reset a dangerous circuit)

Safe reset procedure:

• Identify which breaker is tripped (handle is in middle or fully OFF)
• If you're confident it's safe (no burnt smell, no visible damage), flip to OFF, then to ON
• If breaker immediately trips again: STOP. Circuit is faulty. Call electrician.
• If breaker stays ON: Observe for 1 hour. If no problems, continue monitoring.

Never force a breaker. If stuck, call electrician (indicates damage).

Visually inspect outlets you can see:

• Scorch marks (black or brown discoloration)
• Melted plastic
• Burning smell
• Water/moisture inside outlet

GFCI outlets:

• Press TEST button (outlet should go dead)
• Press RESET (should restore power)
• If either doesn't work after surge, outlet may be damaged (replace it)

Do not use damaged outlets. Cover with tape until electrician can assess.

Common surge damage:

• Electronics (TV, computer, printer): Capacitors burn, circuit boards fail, no power
• Appliances with motors (AC, furnace, refrigerator): Motor fails, won't start, overheating
• Sensitive devices (microwave, water heater, security system): Control boards fried, reset loops
• Chargers & power supplies: Burn out, won't work

Repair makes sense if:

• Appliance is relatively new (5–10 years old)
• Repair cost is less than 50% of replacement
• Appliance wasn't already failing

Replace if:

• Appliance is old (15+ years) and damaged
• Repair costs 60%+ of new cost
• Appliance had recurring issues (surge tipped it over edge anyway)

Most homeowners insurance covers surge damage:

• Typical deductible: $500–$1,000 (you pay this before insurance pays)
• Surge damage: Usually covered if sudden, external cause (lightning)
• Multiple appliances: List everything damaged on claim
• Documentation: Take photos of damage, keep receipts for replacement/repair

Steps to claim:

• Document damage (photos, list damaged items)
• Call insurance company within 48 hours
• Report cause (lightning strike, utility issue, etc.)
• Get repair estimates (electrician + appliance repair shop)
• Submit receipts and documentation to insurer

Example: Surge damages refrigerator ($1,500), TV ($800), computer ($600). Total $2,900. If deductible is $1,000, insurer pays $1,900.

Call an electrician if:

Immediately (potential fire hazard):

• ✓ Burning smell from outlets, appliances, or panel
• ✓ Visible damage (scorch marks, melted plastic)
• ✓ Breaker won't reset or resets immediately when turned on
• ✓ Any sparking or arcing visible
• ✓ Outlets feel warm to touch

Within 24 hours:

• ✓ Multiple appliances damaged or not working
• ✓ Unsure whether to use an appliance
• ✓ Breaker trips with certain appliances
• ✓ GFCI outlets no longer work
• ✓ Panel shows any visible damage

Within 1 week:

• ✓ General electrical assessment to determine surge impact
• ✓ Verify wiring wasn't damaged internally
• ✓ Assess need for surge protector installation
• ✓ Evaluate whether appliances need replacement or repair

Electrician assessment includes:

Visual inspection:

• Check panel for damage or corrosion
• Inspect all outlets and switches
• Look for burnt wiring insulation (might be visible in attic/basement)
• Verify all breakers function

Testing:

• Test GFCI outlets (should trip on fault)
• Check grounding integrity
• Assess panel voltage (should be normal)
• Test circuits for shorts or faults

Appliance evaluation:

• Check major appliance electrical connections
• Look for internal damage (capacitor, board failure)
• Advise repair vs. replace

Recommendations:

• Replace damaged circuit breakers
• Install whole-home surge protector (if not already present)
• Upgrade wiring if damage found
• Document findings for insurance claim

Cost: $200–$400 for assessment and documentation

How it works:

• Installed at main electrical panel
• Monitors all incoming voltage
• Diverts excess voltage to ground (harmless)
• Protects entire house: all outlets, appliances, electronics

Cost: $200–$500 installation + $100–$300 device cost

When to install:

• After a surge event (prevents next one from causing damage)
• Before next storm season
• If you've had previous surge damage
• If you have expensive electronics (TV, computer, security system)

How effective:

• Reduces surge damage by 90%+
• Not perfect (very extreme surges might exceed capacity), but highly protective
• Extends lifespan of appliances
• Peace of mind during thunderstorms

Individual protection for sensitive devices:

• Better than no protection, but less effective than whole-home
• Good for computer, TV, gaming equipment
• Cost: $20–$50 per strip
• Still need whole-home protection as backup

How to use:

• Plug high-value electronics into surge-protected strip
• Replace strip every 5 years (protection degrades)
• Test periodically (some have indicator lights)

GFCI outlets protect against shock, some surge effects:

• Not primary surge protection, but helpful
• Mandatory in bathrooms, kitchens, outdoors
• Trips instantly if fault detected
• Cost: $15–$30 per outlet

Not same as surge protection, but work together for layered safety.

First week after surge:

• Observe appliances (any new issues?)
• Test outlets periodically
• Listen for unusual buzzing/humming
• Don't ignore minor problems (call electrician if anything seems off)

Ongoing:

• Unplug electronics during thunderstorms (safest method)
• Use power strips with surge protection for sensitive devices
• Install whole-home surge protection (major upgrade)
• Have annual electrical inspection (catch hidden damage)

Prevention steps:

• Install whole-home surge protector (strongest protection)
• Unplug high-value electronics during storms (no surge = no damage)
• Use surge-protected power strips (good secondary protection)
• Consider lightning rod (if your home is strike-prone, extremely rare)
• Have annual electrical inspection (catch issues early)

If you suspect utility-caused surge:

• ComEd: 1-800-334-7661 (report outage, damage)
• Document date, time, symptoms
• Take photos of damage
• File claim if appliances damaged (ComEd may reimburse)

Document everything for claim:

• Photos of all damage (outlets, appliances, panel)
• List of damaged items with purchase dates/values
• Receipts from repairs or replacements
• Electrician inspection report
• Weather reports (if lightning-related)

Timeline:

• Report to insurance within 48 hours
• Get repair estimates within 1 week
• Submit claim with documentation within 30 days

Most claims are approved if cause is sudden, external (lightning, utility), and documented.

Surge-related services: [whole-home surge protection](/services/chicago/whole-home-surge-protection-chicago), [emergency electrician](/services/chicago/emergency-electrician-chicago), [electrical inspection](/services/chicago/electrical-inspection-chicago), [electrical panel upgrade](/services/chicago/electrical-panel-upgrade-chicago), and [GFCI outlet installation](/services/chicago/gfci-outlet-installation-chicago).

We respond to post-surge inspection calls across Chicago neighborhoods including [Lakeview](/services/chicago/electrician-lakeview-chicago), [Logan Square](/services/chicago/electrician-logan-square-chicago), [Hyde Park](/services/chicago/electrician-hyde-park-chicago), [Rogers Park](/services/chicago/electrician-rogers-park-chicago), and [Beverly](/services/chicago/electrician-beverly-chicago).

After a power surge in Chicago:

[Call for Immediate Assessment] — If burning smell or visible damage. (312) 219-3386 (24/7 emergency).

[Schedule Electrician Evaluation] — Within 24 hours, for comprehensive assessment and insurance documentation. (312) 219-3386.

[Install Surge Protection] — Protect your home from next surge. Whole-home surge protector: $200–$500.

[Contact Insurance Company] — Report damage, file claim, gather documentation for reimbursement.